Process of forming pipe.



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Patented December 13, 15-30% tori SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7'?"Y,4559, dated December 13, 11304;.

Application filed January 2, 3.90%. Serial No. 18?;175. (No model.)

To r ll II'IMIIHI i/ may concern.-

iie it known that (re. Cuiuuins ii. S'rna'vs and Jens N, Janna, ol Tllinncapolis iu the county oi i'ltlil'lfljlllli bitaie of Minnesota, have invented certain neu'and useful lmprmements in Processes of Forming lipe, oi which the following is a specification.

'llhis invention relates to improvements in processes ol' forming pipe; and the ohjecis we have in view are to provide a process by which pipe in continuous lengths and of ant male riah but preferably of metal, may he il1CX|Hllsirely, rapidly, and perfectly formed.

The invention consists generall in the process of forming pipe Irv distrihuting the material from which the pipe is to he made in molten or liq'uid eond it ion by centrifugal force upon the inner surface of a rotating mold and feeding said material along the inner surface of said mold in a direction parallel to its axis, \vlierelrvthematerial lieoomesgrad ually solidilied while it is held against the surface of the mold ll t such centrifugal loree, the solidilied pipe lleing fed out oi the mold and received upon a suitable rotating support by which it is rotated at the same rate of speed as the mold and the liquid or molten pipe material upon 7 its inner surface or the support lieing stationary or rotating at a greater or less speed tha the mold, so that the pipe is twisted hes fore it hecomes completely solidilicd.

in theaccompanyingdrawings, iormiingpari of this specification, we have illustrated an apparatus that may he employed in carrvingoui our improved process.

in the drawings, Figure] is a side elevation oi an apparatus that ma he employed in carrying out the process. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. El is a vertical seetion oi" the lower part ol' the appin'atus, showiing a section of pipe therein. Fig. t is an ere larged detail section of a portion oi the mold, Figs. 5, 6, i, 8, 9, ill, 11, and 12 are outline vertical sections oi a mold and plunger; and Figs. 13, i i, 15, 16, i7, 18, 19, and .20 are respectively outline plans of the molds and pine gore illustrated in Figs. 5 to 12, these outline vi'etve ha ring arrows to indicate the moremen ts of the parts.

l l i l in carrying out our process we proride a suitable mold .2, that is preferably either e vlindrical or slightly conical. it may be circular or of other form in crosstseotion. This mold may he supported in an suitable main nor and is free torotate upon its axis, and suilalile means are provided for producing such rotation. i't'ehave l'iereshown the mold connected to a tubular support 3, which is provii led with a suitable driving'gear i and is supported upon the antii'riclion-hearin grsii carried by a sleeve if), restimr upon the statitaiery supportor hraclcet i3. 'llhe upper part oi the mold is provided with the distrih" uting-ehaml)er6, within which is a plunger i", having a disk or valve 8, that nearly closes the top oi the mold. The pipe material is fed from the distrilnding-chandler ii into the top oi the mold around the edge of the disk or mini 8. l.he plunger 7 provided with a tubular stone that ("{Qltcnds upward within the tuliiular mold-support 3 and connected with said moldsupporl'. so as to he compelled to roiate the-rmvitln While being free to be raised and lowered i'or the purpose of adjusting the position oi the dish or valve ii in relation to the top oi the mold. The upper part of the iuhular stem of the plunger is sup 'iorted within an adjusiahlesleerelh said stem being provided with llanges it) and 11, extending oulivard ahove the upper and lower ends of said sleeve fl. and suitable antitrictiou-halls i? being arranged Imtween the flanges 10 and l l and the ends oi the sleeve ii. This sleeve is supported in the stationary iaiaring lEl lrv means of the ring lei, which has a screw-- threaded connection with said sleeve. This ring has secured to it's gear which may he rotated lrv a pinion ill, meshing therewith. i-iv rotating the ring it the eieeve .l is caused to move upward or dmvnwarth and tile/rein," the stem oi the plui'iger 7 is caused to more with it, and thedish or vaiv: on the plunger moves upward or lilownivartlwithin the upper part oi the mold.

, For the purpose oi permitting the n'ioiten or liquid material to pass into the distrilnit ingwhinnl the tuilnla r m i oi the plum in provided with a injzrii openings 1 and a disk 18 is arranged upon the head of the plunger within the chamber 6, an annular space being arranged between the edge of the disk and the inner wall of the chamber. The molten metal or other material passes through a stationary pipe 'or tube 19, that is secured upon a suitable support 20 and extends downward within the tubular stem of the plunger. 7 The lower end of this tube is preferably substantially on a level with the top of the distributingchamber 6, and-we prefer to surp undithis tube with electrical heating-coils. and with; suitable covering of non-conducting materiel whereby when pipe is being formed the metallpassiug through the tube 19 may be maintained at a high temperature. Atthe' top of the tube 19 we prefer to arrange a hop- 'mold t at is surrounded by the heating-coils.

per 23., buying a series of openings in walls closed by mica-sheets 22, through which the material in the hopper may be seen. Above the hopper 21 is a suitable melting-pot 23,- having a discharge-stem'24, a controlling valve 25, and suitable burner 26. The pipe materialwhen consisting of metal may be melted in this pot and discharged as desired into the hopper 21, through which it'passesto the distributing-chamber 6 and the mold 2. Arranged in the lower part of the mold is a support 27. This support is arranged to hold the lower end of the pipe that is being formed and is usually arranged to move downward gradually during the formation of the pipe and also to rotate simultaneously with the mold and at the same rate of speed. 1t may, however, rotate at a greater speed or at a less speed, or need not rotate at all. The support 27 is shown in the drawings as carried upon a rotatable sleeve 28, having a suitable gear-wheel 29., engaged by a pinion 30. We nave not thought it necessary to show in this application the means for raising and lowering the support. Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose. I

die have shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings the mold that we prefer to employ.= The lower part of this mold is preferably cylindrical, while the upper part is frusto-conical, and the edge of the disk 8 upon the plunger 7 is of substantially the same form as the upper part of the mold. Suitable provision is made for maintaining a high temperature in the distributing-chamber 6 and in the upper part of the mold. This may be done by means of electrical heating-coils 31, surrounding the mold, and a covering of asbestos or other nonconducting material 82, arranged outside of said heating-coils. Provision is also made for cooling the lower part of the mold. This may be done by means of a cooling-chamber through which water may be passed, whereby the temperature of this part of the o r duced and the pipe material passin the 111126! surface of the mold is o 'dilied.

he drturim s we have shown the distributing-chamber 6 filled with molten metal A. By the revolutioh oi themold the heavier purer metal is moved by centrifugal force near to the wall of the mold and passes downward along said wall outside of the edge of the disk 18, while the lighter metal or dross is held within thedistributing-chamber above the disk 18. Thedisk or valve 8 is set so as to regulate the amount of metal passing between its edge and the mouth of the mold, and hence its position regulates the thickness of the pipe that is formed. The diameter of the mold slightly increases below the disk 8, andhence the molten metal moves downward, being held by centrifugal force against the wall of the mold. 0 The metal remains in a nearly-molten conditfgm until it passes below the part of the Then it gradually solidifies as it passes the portion of the wall that is cooled by the surrounding water chamber. The lower end of the newly-formed pipe reaches the support 27 and rests thereon. This support is usually.

rotated at the same speed as the mold, and it descends just fast enough to permit the proper movement of tl'ye'pipe from the lower end of the mold. We prefer to provide a disk 35,

that'is supported by the plunger 7 and ro-' tates therewith. This disk is located near the lower end of the heated part of the mold. Its

edge is brought quite close tothe wall of the mold, and it serves to smooth and polish the inner wall of the pipe.

We prefer to provide suitable overflowopenings 36 above the distributing-chamber 6, through which any surplus metal mayescape into the chamber 37. (See Fig. 4.)

Inclined openings 38 are also preferably formed through the wall of the mold below the water-chamber 33, by means of which water may be brought directly in contact with the outer wall of, the pipe in the lower part of the mold. This water passes the downward along the outer surface of' the rllpe and enters the chamber 39. Water may )e supplied to the chamber 33 through the pipe 40.

There are several distinct advantages arising from the process of distributing the pipe material in a distributing-chamber and then feeding the'said material from said chamber to the inner surface of the concentric rotating mold. One of these advantages consists irl being able to regulatev the feed of the material to the mold, or, in other words, to feed the material to the mold in regulated quantities while it is held in a properly-distributed condition by centrifugal force. Another advantage consists in being able to form pipe of smaller diameter than could readily be done by attempting to distribute the pipe material have illustrated certain modifications ol the rotated, but is not moved vertically, thereby headed arrow upon ll igfo that the plunger distributor for a 'iaiiticular kind of material.

face of this chamber and he held thereon by centrifugal force. and while eo distributed and held it may be 'ed to the surlnce of the mold. This leeding to the mold may he grow erned or regulated as desired, and the ship or lighter material may during such feeding he retained in the distributingehamher.

in the outline drawingm hints. 5 to till, we

process, all of which arewithin our invention. For instance, in ll ige'. 5 and 13 ot the drawings we have indicated thnt the mold and the plunger may rotate in either direction, and we have also indicated by the double they be raised end lowered while the mold is forming the pipe within the mold and oi the length thereol end without feeding it there from.

lln 6 we here indicated that the mold FE may he raised or lowered while the plunger remains stationery. lln l in'. l we hare indi-- j cated that either the mold or the support 2;! or the plunger may he raised or lowered.

in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11., and l) we here indi cated that theenpport 27 may he raised or low cred while the mold and the plunger remain stntionory.

in Figs. 11 and l9'wc have illustrated a modification oi our process which may he em ployed when it is denired to forma combined pipe or one consieting of two or more dill'erent'materials. As we have here indicaterhwe may employ -a series of plungers, one arranged within the other and each acting an a Each plunger may distribute a dillerent kind of metal, and the pipe will then he termed with .one metal inside of another, all ot said metals being eolidil'ied and -nnited as they he come cooled. A

in Figs, 12 and Q0 we haro illuntratod another modification-of our pioceeo whieh may be employed when itie desired to form a metal pipe with a series ol longitudinal wires embedded therein. We have here shown the wires it supported upon suitable npoole at). i and led. through suitable openings to the in- 1 terior of the mold. where they are in petition l to become embedded in the plpoan itie termed upon the interioraurlacc of the illolrhthe ends 5 of the wires lining connected to the eupportili. We have not dencrihed in detail all the l'ea lures ol the mechanism shown and we make no claim in this application to the apparatus shown and described. the name comatitnting j lhc subject-matter ot a s-acparatc application i for patent, Serial No. leaflet, lilcd ilanuary ll), lJU-l.

We claim as our inrontion l l. The process of forming pipe consisting in distributing the pipe material in molten or in distribution the pipe unite-rial in moltr and eolidilicd.

licpiid condition hr centrilnngal linen inner eurtece ole rhtathur diotrlhnthn her and teedi it in regulateill on lromthe eurlaee ol said chaniher one" face oi a concentric rotating mold.

The proceen of forming}; pipe con:

ill

liquid condition upon the inner in circularupright rotation; dirtrilnitin her, and then feeding said materiel in lated quantities tronii ealtl nurlince ontotu nor eurlaee of a concentric ro ating nloll 3. 'lllhe process of forming" pipe eoni in dietrihuting the pipe moterial iu'i liquid condition upon the inner em circular upright dietrilnitinn:c then dintrihutinn naid hiatcrial quantities from said d trihn onto the inner eurlace ell a r m. mold.

l. 'lhe procene oi lorm in dietrihuti: the pipe n liquid condition upon circular upright] rot her, leedinn soul mate titles downward tron" ner surface 0 l a conco graduully feeding or poeition upon the l5. 1 trit'ug'al force. downward through hole l 5. 'lhc proceo: pl formimg pipe con in dintrihuti the pipe material in molt liquid condition upon the inner nurture oil it rotationdie iontinew llllllilllutli. ll'vllll'u materiel in regulated (plant ilicu from face onto the inner surlacc ot a concen tatinn' mold. and gradually lei-dine; amid material alone; the nitrlacc ol the mold while held in position thereon h ri-entril'ngul l'orce. and. permitting, it to liecome uolldiiied. and rotatno; the eolidilied pipe at the name rate ol speed an the mold and the molten or liquid material.

6. Tillie process of lormii'ln" pipe conrloacd oi two or more matcriale arranged one maple the other, which conmele in dietrihulum one meterial in molten or liquid corulition o run-- trilun'al force upon the r-aurl'ace of a rolatiin m regular rlace o 1 (Nil mold and while said nurtcrinl lei held upon aaid Trihulinu another sin-lace h ench force. din

named materiel gradually l'ecdinp; eaid ma. terialn along: the nnrl'are oi the mold while held in position thereon hr centritnnnl tome and permittingeaid mat erialato lll'lfulllli muted l or in testimony whcrco!" we hm e hereunto not our hands this 29th day.- ol lint-cipher, lllllll.

' ill, l it it .li lfih ll. ri'l l:l..li i L l .lllllhl i l. dillilflll. ln prenence ol it. t. PAUL, ll. ll. llwsow. 

